Saying no to 42% hike, trade unions to go ahead with nationwide strike

New Delhi: Not paying heed to the appeal of Centre, to reconsider their call for strike, in national interest, Central Trade Union members will go on nationwide strike on September 2.

Although the government has hiked the minimum wages by 42 per cent, the central trade unions have rejected it, calling it meagre increase.

Basic Minimum Wages revised:

• The Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, on Wednesday, has revised the Basic Minimum Wages for Centre Sphere Workers. The minimum wages for unskilled non-agricultural workers for ‘C’ categories areas has been fixed at Rs. 350 per day.
• The declaration about the new wages was given in a joint press conference, conducted by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the and Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy & Mines Piyush Goyal, regarding the demands of the Central Trade Unions.
• The conference was regarding a charter submitted to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment (I/C) by the Trade Union leaders after a detailed discussion on their demands.

The following decisions were taken by the Government after the meeting, as per PIB reports:

• The Bonus Amendment Act will be implemented strictly. The Central Government will pay Bonus for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16 based on revised norms. A government notification in this regard is being issued immediately.
• The Central Government will take necessary steps to resolve the cases pending in High Courts/Supreme Court with regard to payment of Bonus.
• It has been decided that, based on the deliberations in the meeting of the Minimum Wage Advisory Board under the Chairmanship of Minister for State for Labour and Employment (I/C) for revising the basic minimum wages for central sphere, the Government has decided to fix the minimum wages at Rs.350 per day for unskilled non-agricultural workers for ‘C’ category areas keeping in view the modalities of fixing minimum wages.
• The registration of the contract workers and their staffing agencies is mandatory as per law and states will be advised to strictly implement the same. Erring contractors will face appropriate action for any violation in this regard.
• The issue of giving social security benefit to the unorganised sector (eg., Anganwadi, Mid-day meal, Asha volunteers etc.) will be examined by a committee which will give its report at the earliest.
• Advisories will be issued to all the States Governments to ensure that registration of Trade Unions takes place within 45 days.
• The Central government has reiterated its commitment towards tripartite consultation process.
• Sector specific meetings will be held to resolve issues relating to respective industries.

Also Read: Central government employees to receive enhanced pay and arrears today

Keeping these points to the Trade Unions, of Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya, had requested them to call off their strike, in national interest. The Union leaders have rejected the government’s request and said that they will go ahead with the nationwide strike on September 2.